The best new amenity in Orlando comes with a stethoscope.
What should you do when you get sick at “The Happiest Place on Earth”? It’s a question few ponder until calamity strikes far from home and stress levels are soaring.
Like the sudden torrential rain showers that pummel central Florida in summer, illness on vacation tends to come on rapidly at inconvenient times. In most places in the U.S., standard medical care is rarely available during the middle of the night and on weekends, but in Orlando—America’s most visited destination—more convenient services designed for travelers have recently emerged.
From nearly “instant” pharmacy delivery services to doctors who will make personal house calls to your hotel room, Orlando’s medical “amenities” are exceptional. In fact, area medical services may be the best “extra” comfort (that you didn’t know you needed) in central Florida.
If Your Child Has a Medical Emergency at Disney
Even during an emergency, there’s a way to keep your vacation magical when you’re visiting Mickey & friends. Designed to lessen the stress of emergency room visits for children and adults, the interior of the brand new AdventHealth ER at FLAMINGO CROSSINGS Town Center resembles a peaceful hotel with playful Disney touches.
Located at Disney World’s western door, the standalone child-friendly emergency room is the latest (May 2023) addition to the Advent Health World of Wellness, a “healthcare ecosystem” that launched in partnership with Disney in 2021 to “reimagine vacation healthcare needs.” The medical partnership perks for Disney resort hotel guests include prescription and medical equipment delivery, free transportation to and from nearby Centra Care Urgent Care locations, and 24/7 telehealth visits via the AdventHealth app. Virtual visits cost $59 for those without insurance.
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Telehealth visits can address most minor and urgent care needs, including rashes, pink eye, cold and flu symptoms, and urinary tract infections. For acute injuries such as sprains, strains, wounds, and more complicated issues, in-person visits are recommended. AdventHealth Centra Care’s Lake Buena Vista urgent care center is open daily from 7 a.m. to midnight. Search “Guest Health Services Presented by Advent Health” on the My Disney Experience app for program details.
If You Get Sick During a Business Trip in Orlando
At the Orlando Health Virtual Care Center located in the Orange County Convention Center, you can get connected with care for minor medical needs such as sore throats, rashes, and allergies without putting a major dent in your business trip. Created in partnership with VisitOrlando to serve the high volume of business travelers to one of the world’s top meeting destinations, the new center is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. during large conventions. Services include triage provided by an Orlando Health team member, who can schedule a virtual visit with a board-certified physician in a fully connected private room.
Onsite virtual appointments for business travelers typically last 30 minutes and cost $55. Medical insurance is not accepted for this service, but patients receive a visit summary that they can share with their primary care provider. Visit this website for a list of upcoming conventions when the care center is scheduled to be open.
When the center isn’t open, Orlando Health offers virtual visits 24/7 to anyone with a medical need. A standard insurance co-payment applies for this service and must be paid in advance. Visit this website for more information or to schedule a virtual appointment.
Where to Find Same-Day Pharmacy Delivery Services in Orlando
AdventHealth Outpatient Pharmacy Celebration (407-303-4005) offers prescription and over-the-counter medication delivery to Disney World hotels. Turner Drugs, a longstanding family business servicing the Orlando tourism industry, offers same-day delivery to Orlando hotels and resorts 365 days a year. Payment is required upfront (a claim form to submit to your insurance is provided with your delivery), and a delivery fee applies. Order by 4 p.m. for same-day delivery.
If You Need First Aid at Orlando Theme Parks
You can get Band-Aids, Ibuprofen, antacid tablets, and more free, quick treatments for minor concerns at First Aid stations at all of Orlando’s major theme parks and waterparks. Staffed by registered nurses and EMTs during regular park hours, First Aid centers have spaces for guests to lie down to recover, refrigerate, and self-administer medication. Some even have a limited inventory of full-size over-the-counter medications for sale.
If You Get Too Much Sun, Come Down With a Stomach Bug, or Need Help Managing “The Morning After”
When a day at the beach or a night at the club leaves you under the weather, iCare Mobile Medicine can help. Offering telehealth and house call services in the greater Orlando and Daytona areas since 2023 and South Florida since 2021, the medical concierge company delivers personalized care 24/7. Clients of the self-pay service include residents and A-list celebrities, as well as domestic and international leisure and business travelers, says Ivan Islamaj, PA-C, MMS, Co-Founder/CEO.
Besides reducing the risk of exposure, medical concierge services minimize discomfort for the patient.
“The last thing you want to do when you don’t feel well is get dressed and wait in line for three hours. When you hang up the phone, you don’t even get out of bed–the medical provider shows up with everything they need,” says Islamaj.
House calls for ages two and up average $299/visit, with an additional fee for testing or imaging services. Commonly treated ailments include ear infections, strep throat, flu, gastroenteritis, urinary tract infections, and dehydration.
“Anything that can be treated at urgent care, we can treat at your home. That includes IVs, injections, blood work, X-rays, EKGs, ultrasounds, and echocardiograms,” says Islamaj.
The visit fee is a little less for telehealth services, which are available based on patient preference, illness severity, and clinical judgment. All patients receive daily follow-up care until they fully recover.
If You Need Next-Level White Glove Travel Medicine Services for the Entire Family
Hotel house calls, interpreter services, Fit-to-Fly certificates, dental care coordination, pediatric care, and prescription and medical equipment assistance are just some of the white glove services offered by The Medical Concierge, an Orlando agency catering exclusively to the hospitality industry for 43 years.
“Concierge medicine, in our opinion, is a higher level of care and attention to the patient. We limit the number of patients that we see, which allows us to provide much more time to our patients,” says Susan -Gentry, Founder & CEO and a former emergency room nurse.
During a hotel house call, doctors from The Medical Concierge are prepared with supplies to treat common ailments such as strep throat on the spot. Before or during your trip, The Medical Concierge can help resolve prescription problems, arrange for specialized care like dental appointments or dialysis, or coordinate delivery of medical equipment like a lift or a hospital bed.
Patients can also visit The Medical Concierge’s freestanding clinic (no walk-ins.) Payment is upfront, however, many travelers can get reimbursement through travel insurance or health savings accounts. For Orlando travelers on the “vacation of a lifetime,” the benefits of this “next level” of hands-on healthcare extend to the entire family.
“No one is going to Disney when mom gets sick–travelers need special attention. They need to know that someone will care for them from the time they contact us to when we put them on the plane back home,” says Gentry.